Desert Messenger

P��� 10 Voices from the Past The Desert Messenger is proud to feature excerpts from Rosalee Wheeler’s “In the Shadow of Saguaros.” Volume I, circa 1540 to 1839, begins with the first recorded history in Southwestern Arizona; Coronado and the Conquistadors searching for the Seven Cities of Cibola. Volume II covers local history from 1840 to 1939. Volume III will feature stories from 1940 to the present. Her books are available at the Tyson Well’s Stage Station Museum, Reader’s Oasis Bookstore, and the Quartzsite Library. (Previous story: Hi Jolly 4-H Club.) I fell in love with Quartzsite in 1937 when I came from Flagstaff to spend the winter at the family’s “Jack of Diamonds” goldmine. Charles was on his winter hiatus as a fire guard for the U.S. Forest Service. What an adventure for a new bride. My father-in-law would send me off to town in his pickup to get supplies and our mail at P. E. and Emelia Woodsen’s Store. The Airstrip Connor Home ���.D�����M��������.��� S�������� 1, 2010 Desert Gardens (part 1) My dream for There was always a collection of locals who visited while Emelia put up the mail. Curious about the history of Quartzsite I found easy conversation with folks like Angela Scott, Fred Kuehn, Judge Hart, Paul Snyder, Charles Mott and Bill Keiser among others. One day several of the locals were Quartzsite Radio KBUX 94.3 FM http://kbuxradio.com • Quartzsite’s Favorite “CLASSIC HITS” • Local Information • Weather • 24 Hours Day / 7 Days Week! 928-927-5111 First locally-owned and operated music station in Quartzsite, Arizona. Proudly serving the communities of Quartzsite, Bouse, Brenda, Rainbow Acres, La Paz Valley and beyond, since 1988. excited about a movie star who had returned to his winter home. Buck Conner’s name wasn’t familiar to me but his brother-in-law, Bill Keiser, who owned the Desert Beacon Hotel with the only public telephone in town, told me that Buck was the retired bookkeeper and part time actor for Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Shows. He was now an actor in Hollywood. Bill had met and married Buck’s sister, Jessie, after her many visits to her Quartzsite retreat. Back in 1903 Jessie, Buck, and their father had each filed for 160 acres under the Homestead Act planning to spend their winters in Quartzsite. As I left the Woodson’s Store on the gravel road to Los Angeles, I drove slowly past the Conner properties, trying to get a better view of this movie star’s adobe home with its long porch, cactus garden and old wagon wheels. I was drawn to the setting, not knowing that within 40 years I would be an owner of the property with a dream to make it something special for this wonderful little town that was soon to become my home for the next 70 years. After my husband and I purchased Charles Mott’s home and beekeeping business, Buck continued to come for his standing order of mesquite honey. Even before he knocked, I knew who was at the door. Buck had a very unique voice and always sang out his arrival. He wasn’t very tall, even with cowboy boots, but he had a beautiful head of white hair that he let grow below his ears. The Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) first had an interest in the Conner properties for an airstrip during World War I and paid Buck $3,000 to clear and level 2,600 feet for emergency use along the east-west American flyway. When the Armistice was signed in 1918, the FAA no longer needed the airstrip. Then during World War II the Air Force asked Buck about renewing their agreement so they could use the airstrip to train the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs.) Stretching from the base of Granite Mountain, the Conner property had a majestic view, especially over the La Posa Plain south to the Kofa Mountains. But  SEE DESERT GARDENS PAGE 11 J & S COVERS Custom Shade Screens for Your Deck, Windows, Patios, & RV Awnings FREE ESTIMATES! Reduce heat coming through the glass by 70-90%. Block out 90% of UV rays that fade and destroy your interior. Screens are mildew and fade resistent. Need only occasional cleaning. Long lasting vinyl coated polyester. Phifer Screen has 5-year warranty. 645 N. Central, Hwy. 95 Serving Quartzsite since 1990 928-927-4220 SAVE $ on Cooling Costs

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